Non-Governmental Organizations

The aim and duties of the centre are as below;

STKAM (NGO Research Centre) works with different departments, the centre is a research and implementation centre that started to operate under Marmara University’s Rector’s Office at the end of 2008 in joint cooperation with academics who are interested in working with NGOs. From the establishment of the centre, STKAM has aimed to strengthen relationships with leading representatives in the NGO arena, and strives to provide opportunities to work together with leading NGOs by including them in the Centre Advisory Committee; the centre also works on the implementations of theoreticians. It is necessary to publish the information that is created today in the international arena. For this reason STKAM, in association with John Hopkins University, after its establishment went into action and brought together people and institutions known as the “third sector”; the centre took its place among the institutional members of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR).

NGOs today take on important responsibilities in a number of areas to remove the negative phenomena that affect a wide section of society and to increase democratic participation. Particularly in the last twenty years, both in Turkey and in the world, the understanding of NGOs has undergone important developments. Developments, such as globalization, the frequent emphasis that businesses should work in awareness of social responsibility, the fact that the negative effects on living quality in the relationship with nature has become greater, have not only increased the importance of NGOs, at the same time, it means that they have serious responsiblitieis. At this juncture, the first of STKAM’s aim is to produce scientific information to contribute to the development of awareness about NGOs both in Turkey and in the world, and to share this information with all interested parties.

In parallel with the increase in importance of NGOs today, the fact that it is easier and quicker to become organized today as compared to the past, it is also relatively easier to secure funds. However, in order for these organizations, established with good intentions and volunteer efforts, to stay on their feet, to attain their aims and to arrange their activities in a way that is in keeping with their institutional identity it is compulsory that there be a professionalization. On the other hand, in order to benefit from the attained sources for creating solutions to social problems it is abundantly clear that it is necessary that NGOs act in an effective and productive manner. For this reason, another aim of STKAM is to give education about the transfer the information needed by modern organizations to the workers and directors of NGOs and to train expert administrators who are equipped with this information.